How Do Nursery Colors Affect Your Baby?

At MasterWorks Painters, we understand a lot goes into choosing just the right color (and shade of that color) for your home.

So how is selecting a color for a nursery different than selecting a color for any other room in your home?

When it comes to any other room besides the nursery, it’s a matter of taste and preference. When it comes to the nursery, however, parents should decide based on what effect the color will have on their little ones.

Studies have proven that room colors can affect human emotions and moods—and babies are certainly no exception. The wrong color choice could cause a variety of issues, such as overstimulation, anxiety, and irritation. On the other hand, smart color choices can encourage relaxation and calmness.

Does this mean that you need to sacrifice your dreams for a beautiful nursery? No. There are plenty of options out there to suit both your aesthetic and your baby’s moods.

Blue

Let’s start with blue, which has been proven to soothe babies. Whether for a boy (think nautical) or a girl (think beachy), blue is calming and classic. But when choosing your shade, lean away from a gray-blue, as gray can increase sadness. Bright accents work especially well in blue-walled rooms; just be sure to keep them simple and not busy. Too many bright touches or busy patterns in accents can provoke your baby’s crankiness.

Green

More and more, green is becoming a popular color in nurseries for both boys and girls. A pale, soft green is both sweet, innocent, and pretty, and green overall has been shown to calm and refresh babies’ minds. Green is often used in learning environments, as it promotes concentration, and it also creates a very peaceful atmosphere.

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Red/Orange

Not many parents decide to go with red nursery walls, and with good reason. Red hikes up emotion and can cause a baby to feel too stimulated, even if there’s no reason to be. This can result in confusion and fussiness. The same idea here goes for orange.

Pink

Pink is still the most popular choice for a baby girl’s nursery. It’s sweet, girly, innocent, and soft, and has great calming effects on the mind. In fact, it has been proven to be one of the most soothing colors you can choose. There’s a reason this color is the reigning champion.

Yellow

Yellow is another popular choice. It’s cheerful and energetic, and brightens up an entire room—but perhaps too much. Studies have shown that yellow in too bright of a shade can easily agitate a baby. If you’re considering yellow nursery walls, go with a paler, more toned-down yellow, which will promote concentration and emotive thoughts for your little one.

Gray

While some parents love the choice of gray for a nursery, others dislike it. Whether or not you like it, it’s important to note that gray has the benefit of being calming, but the negative of having a saddening effect on babies. If you do choose to go with gray, you may want to go with a very light shade, and accent the room with some pastels.

Purple

Purple is a lesser-used, but very nice choice, for nurseries—again, depending on the shade you select. Pastel purples are soft and sweet and have the same calming effect as pink. However, darker purples create the same sadness as gray, and can also make your baby feel unsafe.

photo credit: public domain via www.bedbathandbeyond.com

At MasterWorks Painters, we’re happy to tackle your painting jobs for you. We provide stress-free painting and remodeling services to our clients while delivering a beautiful end product. We serve Fairfax, Vienna, Oakton, Ashburn, and the surrounding areas of Virginia. Contact us at (703) 263-3302 for a free estimate on your residential painting project!